Assistant Director of Mental Health (LDA) in London/Berkshire/Kent/Surrey inLondon/Berkshire/Kent/Surrey PUBLISHED MON 3 NOV 2025 Jump to job information section

Job summary
Are you an

Experience
d and inspiring leader with a passion for improving mental health, learning disabilities, and SEND services? We are offering an exciting opportunity for a12-month secondmentas Assistant Director for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and SEND.About the RoleThis strategic leadership role will be central to shaping and delivering transformation across mental health, learning disabilities, and SEND services in the South East. The successful candidate will work across system partners--including NHS providers, local authorities, and voluntary sector organisations--to drive improvements in quality, equity, and outcomes.

Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities include:Providingoversight of commissioned providers, ensuring safe, high-quality, and effective service delivery.Contributing to the development and implementation of system-wide strategiesfor mental health, learning disabilities, and SEND.Leading transformation programmes, aligned with national priorities and local population needs.Championing inclusive leadership, co-production, and innovation across the system.

About us
Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.We lead the NHS in England by:Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalitiesMaking the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potentialWorking collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate careOptimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovationDelivering value for moneyEarlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.

Details

Date posted
November 2025

Pay scheme
Agenda for changeBandBand 8d

Salary
£91,342 to £105,337 a year per annum (exclusive of London Weighting)

Contract
SecondmentDuration11 months

Working pattern
Full-time

Reference number
990-SE-18734-E

Job location
sNHSE Office in London/Berkshire/Kent/SurreyLondon/Berkshire/Kent/SurreySE1 8UG

Job description

Job responsibilities
We are seeking a candidate with:A proven track record of leadership in mental health and learning disabilities.Strong strategic thinking and the ability to influence across complex systems.

Experience
in service transformation, workforce development, and partnership working.A commitment to equity, inclusion, and improving outcomes for people with lived

Experience
.You can find further

Details
about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and

Person Specification
in the attached

Job description
and other supporting documents.SecondmentsApplicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Job description

Experience
.You can find further

Person Specification
in the attached

Person Specification
Values and behavioursEssentialWorks well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.Values diversity and difference ; operates with integrity and opennessSkills Capabilities & AttributesEssentialHighly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situationsCredibility to successfully challenge and influence individuals at all levels and in different organisations and the ability to build relationships with senior leadersAbility to analyse numerical and written data, assess verbal, written, numerical and draw appropriate conclusionsQualficationsEssentialEducated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent

Experience
of working at a senior level in specialist area.Management training / qualification or equivalent

Experience
Knowledge and

Experience
EssentialIn depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in Local Authority/Health/Social CareSubject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Autism and SEND. Children and Young People's Health and WellbeingShould have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations

Experience
Knowledge and

Experience
EssentialIn depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in Local Authority/Health/Social CareSubject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Autism and SEND. Children and Young People's Health and WellbeingShould have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisationsEmployer

Details